Preview: Robins V Wycombe

Cheltenham Town face high-flying Wycombe Wanderers in a huge Sky Bet League Two encounter at the LCI Rail Stadium on Saturday (kick-off 3pm).

The Robins romped to a 5-1 win over Port Vale in the last game at the LCI Rail Stadium before a narrow 1-0 defeat at Lincoln City in midweek.

Wycombe are the in-form team in the division with five wins in their last six games and 16 points gained as they push for the promotion places.

The Opposition:

Wycombe boss Gareth Ainsworth expects a stern test from Cheltenham Town – and has spoken of his respect for Robins’ manager Gary Johnson.

The teams drew 3-3 at Adams Park earlier this season – when a late goal from Brian Graham snatched a dramatic point for Cheltenham.

“Cheltenham are a very good side, a big side. I remember from Adams Park earlier this season they have a lot of big boys in their team.

“Lincoln are another big side in this division and Lincoln and Cheltenham played each other in the week so we will be looking at that video.

“Gary Johnson [Cheltenham manager] has managed at a higher level and I have a lot of respect for Gary and we go back a long way.

“We had a good smile to each other with the 3-3 draw at home this season. Cheltenham for me got away with that with a push on Ebere Eze just before their equaliser at the end.

“I thought it was going to be our day but it doesn’t work like that sometimes and you have to finish the job and Gary has been around a long, long time.

“He knows how to play the game but if my players can perform how they have in recent weeks then we will hopefully get something out of the game and that is important to me.”

Team News:

Cheltenham team news: Manager Gary Johnson will have plenty of selection decisions to make with Joe Morrell and Jake Andrews pushing for a recall after missing the defeat at Sincil Bank. Jordan Cranston is back in first team training and only a matter of weeks from a return.

Wycombe team news: Wycombe have no new injury concerns for the clash with Scott Kashket (thigh) unlikely to feature while Sam Saunders and Sido Jombati are close to a return. Anthony Stewart has missed the last two months with a calf injury while Michael Harriman (leg) also remains sidelined.

The man in the middle:

Referee Gavin Ward – who has taken charge of 34 games this season and handed out 93 yellow cards and four red cards - will take charge of the league clash at the LCI Rail Stadium. He has refereed the Robins twice this season – league defeats at Newport County and Stevenage. He will be assisted by Simon Shaw, Andrew Hendley and fourth official Robert Dabbs.

Last time we met:

28/10/17 – Wycombe Wanderers 3-3 Cheltenham (L2)

08/04/17 – Wycombe Wanderers 3-3 Cheltenham (L2)

30/12/16 – Cheltenham 0-1 Wycombe Wanderers (L2)

11/04/15 – Wycombe Wanderers 2-1 Cheltenham (L2)

22/11/14 – Cheltenham 1-4 Wycombe Wanderers (L2)

Ticket Information:

Fans are advised that tickets will be available from the Ticket Office on Friday and on matchday.You can also buy online by clicking HERE

On matchday the Ticket Office will be open from 12noon, with limited seating available for fans wishing to pay by card. Collections will also be open from 12noon.

All remaining seats will be available for cashpurchasers only on the day from the turnstiles from 1.30pm.

Away fans can buy tickets on the day of the game, with cash sales from the away turnstiles.

As always, fans collecting pre-paid tickets are asked to arrive early to avoid any queues and to enable easy access into the LCI Rail Stadium.

Supporters are advised the car park at the LCI Rail Stadium is FULL and no matchday sales will be available. Only those with pre-booked passes should park at the stadium.

REPORT: Robins 0-2 Wycombe

Striker Adebayo Akinfenwa proved to be the nemesis of Cheltenham Town yet again as he scored one and set up another as the promotion chasing Wycombe claimed the spoils at the LCI Rail Stadium.

The Robins battled away strongly in the first 45 minutes but found themselves two down at the break after two goals in the final five minutes of the half.

First Akinfenwa turned and fired home from close range - his third of the season against Cheltenham.

Then the big striker set up team-mate Paris Cowan-Hall deep into injury time to drive home for the comfort of a two goal lead.

Cheltenham worked hard in the second half but could find no way past a well-drilled Wycombe outfit who maintained an automatic promotion spot.

Manager Gary Johnson made two changes to his starting line-up with Sanmi Odelusi and the fit-again Joe Morrell returning for Nigel Atangana and Elijah Adebayo.

Morrell introduced himself to the match with a smart tackle on the edge of the area in the opening minutes to deny Luke O'Nien a sight of goal.

The on-loan midfield man then saw a shot saved by Brown before the Wycombe stopper, returning to Whaddon Road after a successful loan spell last season, flapped at a deep corner from Dawson but Moore headed it clear.

Challenges were flying in from both teams as the players looked to take control in the middle of the park in the opening 15 minutes.

O'Nien threatened with a 25-yard drive whistling over the home goal before Pell and Akinfenwa - former team-mates - tussled for the ball in midfield.

Cheltenham forced the first serious save of the game, when Carl Winchester unloaded a stinging and dipping drive that Brown bundled clear.

Wycombe’s Adam El-Abd headed over a Joe Jacobson free kick while Nien saw a shot bounce off the turf and wide after Scott Flinders punched a cross away.

Bloomfield was the next to try his luck, with a rising long range effort rattling wide before the opening goal of the game.

Pell became the first man in the book, after a challenge on El-Abd in midfield, before a real body-blow to the Robins in injury time.

A tackle in the final third fell to the feet of Akinfenwa who quickly rolled in Cowan-Hall and he had time to pick his spot and fire home a second.

Johnson made a double change at the break to try and spark his charges, with Jerell Sellars and Brian Graham on for Odelusi and Rodon.

Sellars was immediately on the ball as he looked to probe and open up Wycombe in the final third.

A superb lung-bursting run from Kevin Dawson saw him race 40 yards with the ball and slide in Eisa, but his low cross from the right was hacked away.

Dawson then crossed to Graham at the back post, with the big Scot heading inches wide of the target.

Dawson was in the thick of the action in the second period as he reacted first to Jamie Grimes challenging for the ball and hit a volley just wide of the Wycombe goal.

At the other end, Grimes did well to slam the door shut on Bloomfield after Mackail-Smith broke down the left wing before Will Boyle produced a sublime block to deny Moore on halfway.

Wycombe were controlling possession and territory as much as possible with time running down, with Dawson heading into the arms of Brown in a rare home attack.

One final change saw Adebayo replace Pell but it was Wycombe who threatened another as Flinders got down quickly to deny O'Nien, after he was fed by Akinfenwa, before the midfielder saw another drive palmed away.

Ticket & Match Information: Wycombe Wanderers

Fans are advised that tickets for Saturday’s Sky Bet League Two encounter with Wycombe Wanderers at the LCI Rail Stadium (kick-off 3pm) will be available on matchday.

You can also buy online by clicking HERE until 11am on Saturday morning.

On matchday the Ticket Office will be open to supporters from 12noon on Saturday, with limited seating available for fans wishing to pay by card. Collections will also be open from 12noon.

All remaining seats will be available for cashpurchasers only on the day from the turnstiles from 1.30pm.

Away fans can buy tickets on the day of the game, with cash sales from the away turnstiles.

As always, fans collecting pre-paid tickets are asked to arrive early to avoid any queues and to enable easy access into the LCI Rail Stadium.

Supporters are advised the car park at the LCI Rail Stadium is FULL and no matchday sales will be available. Only those with pre-booked passes should park at the stadium.

Matchday ticket collections:

If you have purchased tickets in the Autovillage Main Stand, Paddock or Tunnel areas your tickets will be available for collection at the Ticket Office.

If you have purchased tickets in the Colin Farmer Stand your tickets will be available from the collection point located at that stand.

In order to collect your tickets, please remember you will need to quote your name and postcode at the relevant collection points.

Fans are reminded that access to the Robins Nest bar on matchdays is always on a first come, first served basis and if the bar reaches capacity there will be no further admittance. Please arrive early to avoid any disappointment.